Pop-up Event: Meet our Artists-in-Residence

Join us on Friday, September 19th from 3:00 - 5:00 PM for this special pop-up event with our five 2025-2026 Artists-in-Residence (AIRs): Evelyn Kline, Marret Metzger, Sam Christian, Talia Drury, and Thomas McIntyre, with demos, sales and more! This event in conjunction with the Artists-in-Residence Introduction Exhibition, on view from September 5 - 27, 2025. Bring your friends and family, and come meet our 2025-2026 AIR cohort!

For over 30 years Arrowmont has welcomed AIRs to campus for an 11-month, self-directed residency. This unique program provides 5 early-career artists the time, space and support needed to create new work, while actively participating in our robust community of artists, students and staff.

Evelyn Kline is a metalsmith, enamellist and illustrator from Bakersville, North Carolina. She earned her BFA in Studio Art from Appalachian State University in 2024. Evelyn makes narrative jewelry and objects depicting her life and experiences using cloisonné enamel. Pulling from her journaling and drawing practice, she uses these enamel illustrations as a way to further understand the significance of everyday moments. Her work has recently been exhibited at SNAG San Diego and Enamel Guild North East’s Under Fire 5.

Marret Metzger (she/her) is a passionate artist from Northern Indiana. She earned her BFA with a focus on ceramics from Ball State University in 2019 and furthered her education with post-baccalaureate studies at Indiana University Southeast in 2021. After refining her skills as a production potter in Indianapolis, Marret took the leap into entrepreneurship, becoming a self-employed artist in March 2023. Her work Is deeply inspired by the native flora and fauna of the Midwest, capturing the beauty of her environment while raising awareness about the fragility of ecosystems.

Sam Christian (they/them) is a mixed media fiber artist who is deeply committed to celebrating Black and queer stories, exploring both their light and their shadows. Their artistic practice is an homage to storytelling, influenced by their roots in the American South, the wisdom passed down by their quilting grandmother, and their experience as a parentified firstborn navigating the complexities of the “American Dream.” From fiber arts to digital design, Sam’s work interweaves layers of memory, liberation, and community care, always rooted in the preservation and utility of Black art.

Talia Drury was born and raised in Iowa, where she earned her Bachelor’s in Industrial Design from Iowa State University in 2019. She later moved to Rochester, New York, completing her MFA in Furniture Design at the School of American Crafts at Rochester Institute of Technology in 2024. Her practice centers on a deep connection to the natural world, drawing inspiration from the textures, patterns, and forms found in seeds, leaves, and other collected materials. Working primarily in wood carving and painting, Talia creates objects that amplify overlooked aspects of flora and invite moments of reflection and discovery. Over the past year, she has worked as a resident artist and educator at RIT, while continuing to expand her practice into basketry, broom making, and fiber work.

Thomas McIntyre was born and raised in Virginia and received a BFA with a concentration in architecture and sculpture from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2023. Thomas’s work centers around constructing personified furniture objects. His practice is rooted in design history and informed by craft techniques. Through visceral material explorations and the consistent use of ceramic, metal, and wood, his often functional sculptures land in a realm of nostalgic absurdism. Thomas has worked as a studio assistant to several artists including sculptor Anders Ruhwald. Most recently, Thomas completed a residency at Peninsula School of Art in Wisconsin.

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